Donegal Sinn Féin TDs Pearse Doherty and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn have welcomed the news that the public inquiry into A5 Derry to Dublin road upgrade has favoured the scheme going ahead.

They said:

"The A5 upgrade is crucial to the economic development of Donegal and the entire North West region so we welcome the news that the public inquiry has come out in favour of proceeding.

Sinn Féin has been the lead party in the campaign for the upgrade of this strategic road transport corridor so todays news is a good story for our county, the North West and the whole of the island. This is the largest ever infrastructural project in the North West of Ireland and means that people will be in a position to enjoy the tangible benefits such as significant cuts to journey times, increased roads safety, reduced traffic congestion, improved air quality and enhancement of the economic competitiveness of the region".

"We now need to focus on delivering this project as soon as possible and the Irish Government will need to meet their responsibilities and honour the St Andrews Agreement commitment that they will contribute their equal share of 450 million euro.

For too long, Donegal has suffered from political neglect and the additional impact of partition. The completion of this project is vital to undoing some of that neglect and boosting the morale of the people of the North West".